about us 

Tiny Terrapin Art Studio was founded by Shana Cinquemani, who has been an art educator for over 20 years. When she was in 5th grade Shana started experimenting with photography and has built a career around her love of art and teaching.

Shana has experience teaching art to children of all ages. She has worked as an art museum educator at places like The Museum of Photographic Arts (in San Diego), and multiple museums in Tucson, including The University of Arizona Museum of Art, The Center for Creative Photography, and The Tucson Museum of Art. Shana also worked as pre-school and elementary art teacher, having taught at multiple schools and community programs around the country.

Shana is currently an Associate Professor at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in the Department of Teaching + Learning in Art + Design where she teaches graduate students who are learning to become art educators.

A parent herself, Shana also has a great deal of experience making art alongside her son Iko. They started collaborating when Iko was about 6 months old and haven’t stopped since! She is also actively involved in the PTO for Iko’s elementary school and runs their yearly “Cardboard Challenge” where kids create and play with cardboard.

As an artist, Shana practices mostly fiber arts and photography, but her true joy really comes from working with and alongside young children in art making!

Shana holds a BA in Photography, a MA in Art and Visual Culture Education (emphasis in community and museum based art education) and a PhD in Art Education (emphasis in early childhood art education). She has written numerous articles and book chapters about children’s artistic practice, elementary art education, and collaborations between adults and young children. She also runs art programs for young children and families in underserved areas through her work at RISD.